Durga Khote Death Anniversary: Autobiographies break the silence. ‘Me Durga Khote’ broke such a silence. Who is Durga Khote? Jodha Bai of ‘Mughal-e-Azam’, a mother who was a victim of her sons’ indifference and a graduate of that time when even going out for women was considered uncivilized. On 22 September 1991, the mother who made people cry with her acting on the silver screen, left this world.
Khote proved her mettle in both Marathi and Hindi films. After her husband’s death, she had the responsibility of two children on her shoulders, so the self-respecting Durga thought it better to work in films rather than begging in front of anyone. She played a small role in her first film Trapped (Farebi Jaal). People did not like it and it flopped. Durga had decided that she would not work anymore, but then a producer-director noticed her and her luck changed.
Durga Khote kept making her mark film after film
He was none other than V Shantaram. She played Durga in Ayodhya Cha Raja made in Marathi and Hindi and within no time she became a star of Hindi cinema. After that she never looked back. She made her mark as a character artist in film after film and became the recipient of awards ranging from Padma Shri to Dadasaheb Phalke.
The ‘mother’ of Hindi films was born on 14 January 1905 in an aristocratic family of Maharashtra. Her real name was Vita Lad. The aristocratic family paid full attention to her education and as a result Vita completed her graduation. After this she got married. She had two children but fate dealt a blow here and her husband passed away. It was at such a time that she turned to films.
I told my pain in my autobiography
In her autobiography, Durga also mentions the carefree nature of her mechanical engineer husband Khote. She expressed her pain. These lines of a woman bound by family and traditions tell that she was lonely despite having everything in her married life. She writes- “I was unable to understand how and where to put a stop to Mr. Khote’s directionless lifestyle… His bad habits and addictions were increasing. He would go to office whenever he wanted. His company of vagabonds and sycophants was increasing. He had no concern for home, children or financial matters. His life was irresponsible.
A vintage ad of Mercedes-Benz from 1930s. Lady with Mercedes is Actress Durga Khote,once a leading lady of Bollywood. pic.twitter.com/l9nFcpdA8c
—Mumbai Heritage (@mumbaiheritage) September 4, 2017
Durga Khote was the first actress in these cases
Well, Durga endured everything and lived her life smiling. She stood up for her children. She did many such things for the first time which left everyone stunned in those times. She became the first actor who was not bound by any contract, worked for different producers, then not only produced a film Saathi but also directed it. She was also the first female actor to do this. Not only this, she was the first actor of the classic era who appeared in a Mercedes Benz advertisement.
Muskaan was dear to everyone. Hrishikesh Da even called her his lucky charm and his very close friends called her Dimple. One more thing, when the era of TV came in the 80s, a big show was produced. A show that told a special story of common life. Years later, it came in front of the audience in a new avatar and its name was Wagle Ki Duniya.
This experienced artist wrote a lot in Me Durga Khote but the focus was on home and family. It was written in it – I have many missions but I have no strength left. I am 85 years old. I don’t have the courage to do anything. I have many desires but I can’t do anything.
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